April 8, 2020 Issue, Page 5 of 9

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Agriculture Wednes: , April 8, 2020 (a The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Page 5 Soybean group wants to ensure food supply chain keeps moving American Soybean As- to ensure that critical agri- state levels, a request was pounds, while still respect- tiers and truck drivers, to https://www.fmcsa.dot.gow/ sociation recently joined culture workers are able to made of leaders and officials ing posted seasonal, special include all food and agricul- emergency/fmcsa-cdl-waiv- several agricultural groups continue their jobs and that to increase truck weights road, bridge and local limi- tural critical infrastructure er-32420 in signing onto three COV- we keep the food supply on all U.S. highways and tations. ASA stated in the operations, ASA's release Regarding the “Phase III” ID-19-related policy letters chain moving, according to federal interstate highways release that increased truck said. Read here: https://soy- stimulus package, ASA and sent to federal government an ASA release. within their jurisdictions weights improve the food growers.com/wp-content/ other groups have asked the officials and state governors Starting at the local and to a minimum of 88,000 industry’s efficiency and uploads/2020/04/Farm-to- U.S. Small Business Ad- capacity to deliver essential Fork-Letter-to-FMCSA.pdf ministration (SBA) to issue Lucas joins colleagues food, feed and key ingredi- ents that sustain our food supply chain. Read here; In addition, the FMCSA has granted until June 30 a waiver from certain regula- guidance clarifying that agri- cultural businesses are eligi- urging USDA to provide ble to participate in the Eco- https://soygrowers.com/wp- tions applicable to interstate content/uploads/2020/04/ and intrastate commercial nomic Injury Disaster Loan Truck-Weight-Harmoniza- driver’s license and com- (EIDL) program as modified immediate assistance to tion-Letter.pdf The Federal Motor Car- mercial learner’s permit holders and to other inter- by Congress in the CARES Act. Read the letter here: https://soygrowers.com/wp- cattle producers rier Safety Administration state drivers operating com- is urged to expand and ex- mercial motor vehicles. content/uploads/2020/04/ tend the hours-of-service For more information or to Letter-to-SBA-re-EIDL_fi- Washington, D.C. - Con- additional $9.5 billion for we recognize that there is relief granted to motor car- view the waiver, read here: nal_pdf. gressman Frank Lucas, rep- USDA to assist producers, an immediate need for assis- including livestock produc- Funding still available resenting Oklahoma District tance for our cattle produc- 3, joined an April | letter led ers, throughout this crisis. ers. by U.S. Sens. John Thune Here’s the letter: We request that USDA for USDA grant program (R-S.D.) and Catherine Cor- Dear Secretary Perdue, consider data and estimates tez Masto (D-Nev.) and U.S. We write to request swift available from the Office Reps. Dusty Johnson (R- assistance for cattle produc- of the Chief Economist and S.D.) and Henry Cuellar (D- ers with the resources pro- implement a program that WASHINGTON - U.S. people.” separate announcement in Texas) to U.S. Department vided in the recently enacted would directly respond to the Department of Agriculture Electronic applications for coming weeks when these of Agriculture (USDA) Coronavirus Aid, Relief, negative effect on producers Deputy Under Secretary for window two may be submit- funds are available. Secretary Sonny Perdue re- and Economic Stabilization caused by COVID-19. This Rural Development Bette ted through grants.gov be- USDA Rural Develop- questing that he provide im- (CARES) Act to facilitate program should deliver tar- Brand today announced that ginning pril 14, 2020, and ment has taken a number of mediate assistance to cattle the stabilization of farm and geted, temporary, equitable USDA is opening a sec- are due no later than July immediate actions to help producers by using the re- ranch income to produc- relief to cattle producers in ond application window for 13, 2020. Paper applications rural residents, businesses sources provided in the re- ers who are facing market a manner that limits market funding under the Distance will not be accepted under and communities affected cently enacted Coronavirus volatility in the wake of the Learning and Telemedicine the second window. Addi- distortions and negative ef- by the COVID-19 outbreak. Aid, Relief and Economic COVID-19 pandemic and fects on price discovery. grant program. tional information on how To learn more about Rural Stabilization (CARES) Act economic fallout. The COVID-19 outbreak “Due to the COVID-19 to apply will be available on Development’s COVID-19 including the replenishment Recognizing the market National Emergency, USDA grants.gov on April 14. has demonstrated the need response, visit www.rd.usda. of the Commodity Credit volatility and financial hard- is providing an additional USDA opened the period gov/coronavirus. Corporation (CCC) and ad- ships producers are fac- for domestic food security. window for those who can- for the first application wit All farmers and ranchers are USDA Rural Development ditional emergency funding. ing because of COVID-19, not complete applications dow on Feb. 10. That appli- Lawmkers said taking this the CARES Act provides Vital to our country’s ability provides loans and grants to prior to the first application cation deadline is April 10. action would help facilitate $14 billion toward replen- to keep food on the table in deadline,” Brand said. “This Applicants eligible for help expand economic op- the stabilization of farm and ishment of the Commod- a future pandemic or related action will provide more DLT grants include most portunities and create jobs ranch income for produc- ity Credit Corporation and crisis, and many producers, time for applicants to com- state and local governmen- in rural areas. This assis- ers who are facing market an additional $9.5 billion including young produc- plete their funding requests. tal entities, federally recog- tance supports infrastruc- volatility in the wake of the for the U.S. Department of ers, are often highly lever- Access to distance learning nized tribes, nonprofits, and ture improvements; busi- COVID-19 pandemic and Agriculture (USDA) to as- aged and cannot fall back and telemedicine makes it for-profit businesses. ness development; housing; economic fallout. sist farmers and ranchers on years of equity in a time easier for thousands of rural Rural Development was community facilities such as Thune, Cortez Masto, in response to COVID-19. of crisis. As such, we urge residents to take advantage provided an additional $25 schools, public safety and Johnson, Cuellar and others While we do not know what you to quickly deliver relief of health care and education- million in the CARES Act health care; and high-speed worked hard to ensure the the full market impact will to producers as we work to al opportunities without hav- for the Distance Learning internet access in rural ar- CARES Act replenished the be for the various commodi- lessen the economic impact ing to travel long distances and Telemedicine grant pro- eas. For more information, CCC and appropriated an ties produced in our states, of this pandemic. or be among large groups of gram. USDA will make a visit www.rd.usda.gov. Immune system tips offered during crisis work of cells, tissues and whole-grains, low-fat dairy night, on average. How- organs. Eating right, staying and lean protein following ever, some adults function physically active, getting the USDA’s Choose My just fine on six hours, while enough sleep and manag- Plate. others may need up to nine ing stress keeps everything Hermann also stressed the hours of sleep. in top working order,” Her- importance of engaging in “Today’s current situation mann said. “However, peo- regular moderate physical is causing a lot of stress for ple are likely experiencing activity in an effort to help people, which can take a toll higher levels of stress, get- keep the immune system both physically and emo- ting less sleep and perhaps strong. The Physical Activ- not eating healthy during the ity Guidelines for Ameri- tionally,” she said. “Learn- COVID-19 pandemic.” cans recommends adults get ing ways to reduce or man- A healthful diet has an im- at least 150 to 300 minutes age stress is imperative for portant role in maintaining of moderate activity each good health. Physical activ- the immune system. Her- week. Children ages 6 to 17 ity also plays a positive part mann said many different should get at least 60 min-in immune function by help- nutrients have a role in sup- utes of moderate physical ing with stress management. porting a healthy immune activity every day. If you have exercise equip- system, including protein, Getting enough sleep and ment at home, use it. If not, beta-carotene, folate, iron, managing stress also are go for a walk around your zinc, selenium, magnesium important for a healthy im- home or tune into an online and vitamins A, C, B6 and mune system. Not getting Ahealthy immune system is a person’s central defense against germs bent exercise show to help deal on mayhem. Photo by OSU. enough sleep, coupled with with the stress you may be However, too much of a dealing with a lot of stress, By Trisha Gedon immune systems and stay cal habits might make a big good thing can create other can wear down a person’s experiencing.” STILLWATER — While as healthy as possible, said difference in the long run — problems, so Hermann said body and weaken their im- Trisha Gedon is a commu- medical researchers world- Janice Hermann, Oklahoma emotionally as well as phys- to focus ona mune system. nications specialist for Ag- State University Extension ically. wide race to develop a cure well-balanced diet con- Ideally, Hermann said, ricultural Communications for COVID-19, people can nutrition specialist. “The immune system is taining a variety of foods, adults should get seven to Services at Oklahoma State work to strengthen their A few easy and practi- actually made up of a net- including fruits, vegetables, eight hours of sleep each University.